Big News (and not so big news) from Oxford!

Well the big news is that Brian has been offered an amazing professorship position! And the not so big news is that we will not have to move – his new job is right here in Oxford!

Brian has accepted a tenured-track assistant professorship (at Oxford it’s actually called an University Lecturer) in the University of Oxford’s physics department. He also undertakes a concurrent role called College Tutor, in which he tutors and mentors a handful of Oxford undergraduate physics students at one of Oxford’s 39 colleges – Keble College. So Brian officially now becomes a real faculty member of the University and a Fellow of Keble College. (Whereas before, he was not an official employee of the University. He was a postdoctoral researcher and visiting scientist being funded by external sources; the Royal Society the first 2 years, and now the National University of Singapore.)

This obviously means that we will be making a more permanent home in Oxford for the foreseeable future. We love our cozy flat close to the city centre, but are now interested in finding a house (although it will be small in this country!) with hopefully a garden (yard) in back and space for a car. One of my new goals this year is to learn to drive a stick shift and on the left side of the road! And yep, this means we plan to start a family over here – and I wonder how much of the British accent our future kids will pick up!

We’ll continue to update everyone as we learn more about what this new role for Brian means, and how we’ll be settling (again, but in the same place!). Continue to keep an eye on our blog, via email and Facebook.

I know Brian would love to hear from you as he embarks on this next stage of his career. I’m a very proud wife and continue to be amazed at what a smarty-pants I married!

Please continue to stay in touch; we love hearing from you while living across the pond – we miss you!

Love, Kelly and Brian

Snow in the UK!

Well I spoke too soon in my last post - it's been snowing for more than 24 hours here and probably 8 inches at least of accumulation. They are saying it's the most snow Oxford has seen in more than 30 years. And snow is to continue for the rest of the week!

The most entertaining part for me is that the country doesn't know how to deal with this amount. Typically the UK doesn't get any snow. So they do not resource their city councils with ways to remove the snow. There are no big road snow plows, there are no snow blowers, and no one even owns their own snow shovel or ice scraper for the car! The roads and sidewalks just pile up with snow, and people and cars just try to walk/drive right through it all. It makes for a lot of mess! And it's pretty scary with Brits driving in the snow, since they are not used to it.

Here are some pics from outside my flat - notice how the road and sidewalks are pretty snowy. People just walk down the center of the roads instead for better traction!

Happy New Year 2010!

Well I have safely returned from visiting home for the holidays. Brian is still in the US on his way to a conference in Utah. He returns next Saturday 10 Jan.

It's always tough to come back to the UK after being home, seeing everyone and having fun. But I think going back to "reality" is hard for everyone after the holiday season. Being home however, reminds me how blessed we are to have such large, wonderful and supportive families and great friends in our lives. When we visit, while many things have changed, many things are the same and that is what gives me great comfort. We have so much to be thankful for!!

I don't have photos to post, as Brian still has our camera. I look forward to showing our UK friends all of the snow we left behind! The weather here is sunny and upper 30s/lower 40s. So pretty typical for the UK.

Thanks to everyone for spending time with us this holiday season and for your kind gifts, cards and photos. For those of you whom we missed seeing this year, you are always in our thoughts and we can't wait to see you soon when the opportunity arises!

Here's to a great start of the new decade and to all of the new opportunities and challenges approaching us! Please continue to keep in touch - it's so helpful to hear from friends/family while we love afar!

Love and cheers!
Kelly & Brian